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Canucks Report: Coaching staff changes

by
Derek Jory
/ Vancouver Canucks

August 3, 2010

COACHING STAFF CHANGES

Fresh blood is the theme of the day as not only did the Canucks bring in a new assistant coach in Newell Brown on Tuesday, but watching Shark Week on Discovery Channel I learned that sharks can smell one drop of blood in a million drops of water.

Brown joins the Canucks after spending the last five seasons as an assistant coach with the Anaheim Ducks. He comes to Vancouver having helped the Ducks to playoff appearances in four of five seasons, including the 2006-07 campaign when the Ducks quacked past the Canucks in the second round en route to a Stanley Cup win over the Ottawa Senators.

Despite only being hired Tuesday, Brown has been a longtime Canuck as Vancouver selected the forward in the eighth round, 158th overall, in the 1982 NHL Entry Draft. Brown never played in the NHL after making his way through the QMJHL and NCAA with stints in the IHL, AHL with the Canucks organization, and with the Canadian National Team before turning his attention to coaching.

In 1987, Brown was hired on as an assistant coach with Michigan State University, his alma mater. That was the beginning of a 22-year coaching career which has had Brown behind the bench for six teams; Chicago, Columbus and Anaheim have been stops during his 13-year NHL coaching career.

“Newell brings a tremendous amount of NHL experience and success to our team as an Assistant Coach, including a Stanley Cup Championship”, said Mike Gillis. “We believe his skill set complements our coaching staff and will help further develop our players; ultimately making this team more competitive.”

BOWNESS, WILLIAMS BACK FOR MORE

The Canucks also announced that associate coach Rick Bowness and assistant video coach Darryl Williams were re-signed.

Rick Bowness returns for his fifth season as a member of the Canucks coaching staff and 21st NHL season in a coaching capacity. Bowness has held the position of head coach with five teams over his NHL coaching career and spent seven seasons in the League as a player with Atlanta, Detroit, St. Louis and Winnipeg.

Darryl Williams returns for his third season with the Canucks in the capacity of assistant coach, video. Williams played 11 seasons in the AHL and IHL and is the first Newfoundland-native to work in an NHL coaching position in League history.